F.I.S.H. - Financial Independence Starts Here
I.D.A. - Individual Development Account
United Way of Kern County believes in the old adage of "teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime". With that in mind, a coalition led by United Way of Kern County offers free, financial literacy classes for adults through its FISH program. The FISH offers Individual Development Account or IDA which is a matched savings account that helps lower-income individuals and families accumulate savings for investments in long-term assets such as a house, post-secondary education, or a small business. Go here for more information.
A $2 match for every $1 an indivdual saves towards a personal goal of:
- Purchasing a first home
- Starting a small business
- Paying for an education
A network of community and banking partners along with United Way of Kern County work together to provide money management classes, access to financial services, and IDA savings programs throughout Kern County. These classes teach financial literacy to individuals for a lifetime of independence.
Funding Partners are:
- Citi
- Pusateri Family Trust
- Union Bank
- Wells Fargo Bank
Community Partners are:
- Bakersfield Homeless Center
- Community Action Partnership of Kern
- Housing Authority of the County of Kern
- Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce
- Mexican American Opportunity Foundation